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Le Soirreports that odds on the Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy's chances of becoming President of the European Council have grown longer now that UK Foreign Minister David Miliband has announced he is not in the running for the post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs. The withdrawal of the popular British candidate may prompt member states to postpone the announcement of appointments for the two posts, slated for an extraordinary meeting of the European Council on Thursday 19 November. The Belgian daily also mentions other candidates for the position of High Representative: Britain's European Commissioner for Trade Catherine Ashton, the Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt and former Italian government leader Massimo D'Alema. "The latest developments have relaunched speculation on the other new European portfolio of Council President," explains Le Soir. Tony Blair, who was thought to have been sidelined by the hostile reaction to prospect of his appointment, may now be gaining ground. Irish former president Mary Robinson has also been mentioned, as has Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende.
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